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United States Patent | 5,734,550 |
Penniman ,   et al. | March 31, 1998 |
A thermal transfer circuit is provided for dissipating thermal energy within a personal computer. The thermal transfer circuit is formed during assembly of the personal computer. Specifically, the thermal transfer circuit is formed when a computer keyboard is fixed upon a portable computer base. The computer keyboard serves as a heat sink and a coupling mechanism is provided between the heat source (CPU) and the heat sink keyboard. The coupling mechanism includes flat side portions which are in lateral registry with each other and which abut together during assembly of the keyboard upon the computer base. Abutment of the side portions effectuates completion of the keyboard assembly to the computer base as well as completion of a thermal transfer circuit extending from the CPU to the computer keyboard.
Inventors: | Penniman; Mark B. (Austin, TX); Schlesener; Carmen M. (Pflugerville, TX); Kizer; Jim J. (Austin, TX) |
Assignee: | Dell USA, L.P. (Round Rock, TX) |
Appl. No.: | 412335 |
Filed: | March 29, 1995 |
Current U.S. Class: | 361/687; 165/80.3; 165/185; 174/15.2; 361/704; 361/720 |
Intern'l Class: | H05H 007/20 |
Field of Search: | 165/80.2,80.3,80.4,185 174/16.3,15.2 257/706,707,710,711-714 361/687,689-690,699,707,709-711,715,717-722 |
5191512 | Mar., 1993 | Ogura et al. | 361/720. |
5402311 | Mar., 1995 | Nakajima | 361/687. |
5430609 | Jul., 1995 | Kikinis | 361/711. |
5513070 | Apr., 1996 | Xie et al. | 361/720. |
Thermacore Inc. Product Data Guide, "Pentium.TM.Processor Thermal Management System", Nov. 19, 1994. |